Lucia Eugenio has just registered for health insurance through the NY state of Health Marketplace.Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Currently unemployed, Lucia Eugenio, 62, of Castleton Corners, needs to comply with the Affordable Care Act's mandate to obtain health insurance by Jan. 1. But when she sought out coverage via The New York State of Health's web portal shortly after it launched on Oct. 1, she was unable to register online.

After being booted off the "The Official Health Plan Marketplace," website several times, she called the agency for help.

In turn, the state's marketplace directed her to visit one of more than a dozen Staten Island "navigators" -- community-based organizations staffed with representatives who can walk residents through the process of obtaining health insurance via the state's marketplace.

Only after an appointment with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce navigator was she able to obtain health benefits.

Need Help navigating the New York State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace?

There are more than 12 Island navigators:

To reach the Jewish Community Center (JCC), which has five Staten Island navigator locations, call (718) 981-1400.

For the Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce navigator, call 718-727-1900.

"I tried on my own with the health exchange itself and got no where," she said. "I got an error online the first day ... The representative I called from the state couldn't get online either."

Ms. Eugenio is one of many Staten Islanders who sought out the help of local navigators in her quest to comply with Obamacare.

"Without the navigator's help I wouldn't have been able to register," she said, noting she signed up with EmblemHealth and will be paying a $132 per month premium for her coverage. "She (the Chamber "navigator") had a lot of patience with me, and it didn't even take an hour."

However, marketplace representatives say since the first week of operation the glitches in the web portal have since been ironed out.

"(State marketplace) technicians have monitored the site 24/7 and have
made numerous improvements to nystateofhealth.ny.gov since the Oct. 1,"
said a state marketplace spokesman.

Like Ms. Eugenio, many Staten Islanders continue to seek the help of local navigators.

"Some people are more comfortable having someone guide them through the process of obtaining a health plan," said Maureen Fisher, program director for the navigator program operated through the The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Staten Island, which has five navigator locations across the borough.

"The word is getting out there. People want to know what types of health plans are available to them, and they are starting to come in (to the navigators)," added Ms. Fisher, an Advance Woman of Achievement, class of 1995. She noted that through the navigator program, the JCC has representatives who speak five different languages.

Nearly 174,000 New Yorkers have completed the full application process and were determined "eligible" for health insurance plans since the Oct. 1 launch, according the the New York State of Health.

To date, 37,030 New Yorkers have fully enrolled for health insurance through the NY State of Health marketplace.

The federal government reported this week that approximately 500,000 applications have been submitted nationwide. The state's completed applications make up more than 30 percent of the total U.S. figure, according to the state marketplace officials.

However, the New York State of Health couldn't provide the number of Staten Island applicants who have sought out insurance via the marketplace. A spokesman for state's marketplace said the numbers haven't yet been broken down by region.

"Our marketplace is operating very smoothly, and we are pleased to see that tens of thousands of individuals and small business owners across the state are turning to nystateofhealth.ny.gov to access low-cost health insurance," said Donna Frescatore, executive director of NY State of Health.

Under the plan, folks who are sick can't be turned away or charged more. In addition, older patients can't be charged more than younger people. However, penalties can be levied on smokers.

The web portal allows for middle-income earners to be able to buy subsidized private coverage for themselves and their families, while low-income earners are eligible for an expanded version of Medicaid.

Everyone must have insurance by Jan. 1 or face a fine. Fines start out small, at $95, but increase year to year. There will be exceptions for those who have a financial hardship.

While businesses with 50 employees or more have a reprieve until January 2015 to obtain insurance for their workers, owners of small businesses can utilize the web portal now.

New Yorkers have until March 31 to enroll, and the first round of coverage begins Jan. 1. To meet the deadline, New Yorkers must enroll by Dec. 15.

Small businesses can access expert advice and enroll in a health plan online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov/employer, or by calling toll-free at 1-855-355-5777.

Individuals and families can get information and enroll in a plan either online at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, or by calling toll-free at 1-855-355-5777, or in-person through a navigator.